Category: Sport

WWE: When is it Not Ashamed To Be a Wrestling Promotion?

In the last few months, me and a few of my wrestling fan mates (of which there is numerous) have been having a good giggle at the WWE, and it’s refusal to be called a wrestling promotion.

They have tried to distance itself from the name since the mid 80’s, when they used it to get passed being listed as an athletic event so they wouldn’t have the same regulation as boxers (“wrestlers? No, they are superstars!”), but recently it’s got a bit silly, PR departments have been agressive in emailing sources in press coverage asking for titles that mention the word “Wrestling” changed, even removing coverage when journalists not wanting to change. Jokes about how many times the word “Wrestle” was said at Wrestlemania (which is probably going to be changed in name next year to something like “Entertainamania” – hey that could work as a name) did the rounds over the weekend, and as somebody who is involved in the wrestling business in such a small way, I find it amusing.

However, the other business I’m involved in is SEO, and – during a boring evening pissing about on the internet – I found this:-

Furthermore, here is the Meta Description, where it explicitly says it’s targetting wrestling fans!

<META NAME="description" CONTENT="Wrestling merchandise from WWEShop.com
includes a huge variety of WWE DVDs, action figures, accessories &amp;
more at everyday low discounted prices. WWEShop.com satisfies all
WWE wrestling merchanidise needs for the wrestling fan in all of us!">

I don’t blame WWE for this. After all, if you sell wrestling merchandise and don’t include the words “Wrestling Merchandise” in your title and meta description tags, then you are – quite frankly – pants on head retarded. Certainly I applaud your SEO team and if Vince McMahon is reading this, I suggest you give them a pay rise for bringing in a lot of sales for standing up to your branding department (who, really, should be fired).

Oh and whilst your at it. Give Zack Ryder a push.

I’m not sure either of those will happen, in fact I’m pretty sure that the word “wrestling” will be removed from the title and descriptions!

Rhys vs USA & Canada – Plan 1

Over a bottle of wine last night, I planned the first draft of my travel plans – when I head to the United States & Canada for a bit. Here’s the first draft.

Following last year’s holiday, I’ve decided I really enjoy watching sports when I’m abroad (plus it’s content for You’re Supposed To Be At Home), so the plan is to watch WWE Monday Night Raw in Richmond, VA, the New York Red Bulls in (oddly) New Jersey, and the Yankees as well. Unfortunately the Mets are on a 10 day stint away, so I can’t watch them again. I’ll see if I can fit in a game of something in Chicago & Toronto.

Already the plans have changed though from the above though! After speaking to my brother, he thinks I should have one less day in Richmond (which is fairly easy to do) and one less day in Toronto. Instead put that time to either an extra day in New York or Washington, as well as fit in a trip to Niagra falls.

With that said, I’m chuffed getting it off the ground at long last. Anybody been to Toronto? Worth it for a couple of days? Any ideas or suggestions for how to add to the trip or any things I must see (done New York, so I’d like things a little off the beaten track).

The Sound of the Entire World Marking Out

As some of you know, I’m involved in the wrestling business here in the UK. If I can get even one percent, of one percent, of one percent of a reaction from a paying audience as big as this, then I can die happy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BII1rjoHdeU[/youtube]

Three of the global trending topics when I woke up this morning – this is huge. Put it this way – when it was The World Cup Final, only 2 of the trending topics were about the game (after the game it did pick up a bit).

A few people I know that’ll read this work in social media – if you ever need an example of a paying audience who follow your brand with such passion, check out the WWE.

Big thank you to Craig – who gave the idea of the blog post title. I’m pretty sure the video may be removed from Youtube soon, so go watch it!

Six Nations 2011 – It Begins Today!

Yes! The most politically correct sporting tournament begins today – the Six Nations!

It’s a tournament that pits England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France & Italy in a league format in Rugby, to see who is the best nation in the Northern Hemisphere

I bloody love it, it’ a marvellous tournament, that unites a nation like no other tournament on a yearly basis. Furthermore, it’s provides the sort of banter you can have with your fellow nations that doesn’t involve a glassing. As much as I love football, rugby players can really teach them something on how to act on the pitch.

To give a sample of such banter, I ask my followers the same question: “What do you think their chances of winning the Six nations are?”

Mike CJ (English) of Camel Media Group said the following:-

http://twitter.com/#!/mikecj/statuses/33296097363496960

Barry Adams (Dutch, but lives in Ireland) of The Great Websites Blog said the following:-

http://twitter.com/#!/badams/statuses/33454888323129344

http://twitter.com/#!/badams/statuses/33455020217208832

James Jackson of Ogge said the following:-

So what of Wales chances? I’m not confident. Injuries & the fact we’re approaching a World Cup generally means we’ll be poor. As lovely as it would be to beat the old enemy, I’m not confident. Still I’ll still be singing hymns & arias. Dewch ymlaen Cymru!

Who do you think will win?